The district administration of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh has demolished the Raza-e-Mustafa Mosque in Chandausi and initiated action on two other religious structures found to be encroaching on public land. This marks a significant development in the state’s ongoing anti-encroachment campaign that has already targeted over 30 structures, including residential homes and religious buildings.
The Raza-e-Mustafa Mosque, located in Laxmanganj of Mohalla Waris Nagar under the Chandausi Kotwali area, was found to be illegally constructed on land owned by the Nagar Palika Parishad Chandausi. The district administration acted swiftly after legal procedures and due notice, deploying heavy machinery including bulldozers and a hydra machine to completely raze the structure to the ground. The mosque’s minaret was also demolished as part of the operation.
What makes this development particularly noteworthy is the relative absence of resistance. After receiving a formal notice of eviction and demolition due to encroachment, the Raza-e-Mustafa Mosque Committee itself took the initiative to comply with the order. The committee engaged over a dozen labourers and began demolition on June 18, completing most of the task voluntarily. This was after the district administration, led by District Magistrate Dr. Rajendra Pensia, extended the deadline by one day beyond the official notice period to allow peaceful compliance.
Dr. Pensia reaffirmed the administration’s firm resolve: “Illegal encroachments on public land will not be tolerated. We encourage voluntary removal, failing which the administration will enforce action under law.”
Meanwhile, another high-profile structure the Yakub Ali Shah Chishti Dargah, situated directly on the Bijnor-Agra highway—has also come under administrative action. In light of road expansion and highway construction, the dargah is being relocated in phases. Authorities have already moved it 15 feet back over a two-day operation and plan to shift it another 30 feet to accommodate the widening of the Public Works Department (PWD) road.
Simultaneously, another mosque built illegally on public park land near the religious site of Shri Kalki Dham is in the process of being dismantled. In a rare instance of administrative coordination and social harmony, members of the mosque committee themselves have undertaken the demolition with mutual consent, avoiding the potential for communal tension or legal standoff.
This particular action is being widely praised as a model of civic responsibility and interfaith cooperation. The administration, rather than executing abrupt demolitions, has facilitated dialogue and encouraged community-led compliance with the law. Officials have described this as a “textbook example” of how public interest and religious sensitivity can coexist when guided by mutual respect.
According to district records, the mosque was one among 34 illegal structures identified in Chandausi, which also includes 33 houses. All structures were constructed on encroached public land, mainly belonging to the Nagar Palika and Revenue Department.
The notices served to violators outlined clear deadlines and legal consequences. Officials from both Nagar Palika and the Revenue Department confirmed that action against non-compliant properties would proceed without delay if voluntary demolition is not carried out.
The drive in Sambhal is part of a larger administrative push across Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government, which has consistently taken a strong stand against unauthorized construction—be it residential, commercial, or religious. The message from the administration is unambiguous: Rule of law is supreme, and no institution religious or otherwise can claim exemption when it comes to illegal encroachment on public property.
Sources within the local administration stress that the campaign aims not only to reclaim public land but also to restore order and enforce planning discipline across urban and semi-urban settlements. While previous efforts have met with sporadic resistance in other parts of the state, the developments in Sambhal particularly the voluntary participation of religious committees—are being hailed as a blueprint for lawful cooperation.
